Like the city planning document in “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe” that was kept in a locked basement and guarded by a leopard, some monuments in San Jose are hard to get at—or find. Within a half-mile radius of Plaza de Cesar E. Chavez Park is a giant bronze rendition of Tony Ridder’s running shoes, a statue of William McKinley, a memorial forum honoring Robert F. Kennedy, the actual cornerstone of the 1887 San Jose City Hall, and a Brobdingnagian statue of Thomas Fallon and the horse he rode in on.

Carping about there being “nothing to do” in San Jose is frivolous and without merit. There are a myriad of soul stirring adventures in San Jose. One need not travel to god-forsaken San Francisco for a culture fix. The following San Jose field trips will fill up one’s spiritual gas tank—assuming one has a soul.

It’s official.

To realize the glory of San Jose, including desolate downtown, try moving to Cocoa Beach, Florida, as I did last year.  I would give anything to be back in San Jose complaining about tumbleweeds tumbling across San Carlos, or watching children cavorting on the Quetzalcoatl Statue. Cocoa Beach has its attractions: the annual “I Dream of Jeannie Look-a-Like Contest,” and the world renowned Ron Jon Surf Shop. But that’s about it except for a pawn shop built to resemble a castle and painted orange. Not complaining. I like the beach. But I can’t stop thinking about San Jose with its odd charms and central location. I don’t think downtown San Jose really needs “saving,” but some judicious purchase of “wonders” would liven things up a bit.

Here is your opportunity to lead the discussion. Choose a topic and share your thoughts.

When Clint Eastwood as the Man With No Name would ride into town, he had no history.  He would be right at home in San Jose.  San Jose has become a city that may as well have no history because we continually forget what we have and, as they say, those who forget history are bound to repeat it. 

By Guest Blogger Jerry Estruth

Ross Perot would be surprised to know that the great sucking sound he’s hearing is not being caused by NAFTA but by the Great Power Vacuum that has created what I call the Black Hole of City Hall.

OK, technically it isn’t a guest blog, but several readers forwarded us an e-mail that he sent out a few weeks back and we thought we’d share it with you.  Enjoy!

By Guest Blogger Jerry Estruth

In 1978, when I was a candidate running for the San Jose City Council, I supported districting.  At that time, San Jose had 7 councilmembers, including the mayor, all elected at large.  I became the last councilmember to be elected city wide.  Therefore, I think that I am qualified to question whether or not districting has been good for San Jose and whether or not it has outlived its usefulness.  I think the time when the scant support of 2000-3000 people can elect a district councilmember from a district has passed.

By Guest Blogger Jerry Estruth

I had the chance to spend a couple of days in the Valley of Hearts delight last week and several things became clear.  I don’t miss the traffic at all.  The Mercury News still does its thing, whatever that is.  It used to be a good paper but something happened to it.  Actually it had a great editorial about the Silicon Valley Land Conservancy and the good work that Don Gralnek, Eric Brandenburg and Pat Sausedo are doing to preserve open space in the Valley of Heart’s Delight, before it is all paved over and painted green.

By Guest Blogger Eric Carlson

Like countless others before me, I have pondered the way to San Jose; specifically downtown San Jose where, one Sunday afternoon, tumbleweeds literally rolled over San Fernando Street as if in a dream. I saw them, and the only noise to break the dead calm was a whoop from way over at Wave’s Smokehouse and Saloon where the Oakland Raiders were temporarily winning. Downtown San Jose, on certain Sundays, can be the quietest retreat one can imagine. Good or bad?

By Guest Blogger Eric Carlsen

The recent blog-a-rama concerning statues and statue-worthy subjects failed to take note of Dr. Henry D. Cogswell. A man featured prominently in Plaza Park for many years, he stood near where the current fountain spouts geyser-lets.

By Guest Blogger Alex Marthews

After a midnight vote at City Council last week, San Jose is slated to lose the finest of its historic canneries, Del Monte Plant #3. With this decision, we have all lost.

The Cinequest film festival is in the midst of its fifteenth year, with over 200 films being shown to 60,000 people, all in downtown San Jose.  This, I would contend, is what makes a city great.